Kaffir Lime Care – Buying a Tree
by Kasma Loha-unchit
6. Buy a Larger More Established Plant
Because of the above problem, I have been advising students to buy larger, more established kaffir lime plants, such as one that is at least a 5-gallon size. That way the kaffir lime portion of the plant can more easily control the vigorous rootstock without being overtaken by it.
Most of my students who've had a kaffir lime plant die on them within a year of purchase happened to have purchased it as smaller 1- to 2-gallon-size plants. My suspicion is that because the plants were still quite young, they were less able to handle the culture shock that came from suddenly being removed from the security of the greenhouse nurseries where they were born and raised and thrown into a completely new and unfamiliar environment. On the other hand, larger, more established plants, such as 5- to 7-gallon sizes, are more likely able to cope with adverse conditions they find in your garden.
Although they do mail order, Four Winds Growers, the main producer of kaffir lime plants in northern California, recommends that you go to Orchard Supply (OSH) and have them order you one if there's not one already in their nursery. This way you won't have to pay for shipping. Four Winds sends many kinds of specialty citrus trees to OSH on a very regular basis. OSH also has a generous replacement policy: if any plant you purchased from them should die on you at any time for any reason, they will simply replace the plant no questions asked. And I've heard that kaffir lime is one of the plants that frequently is sent back to be replaced.
You can also order a kaffir lime tree through any nursery that carries citrus trees.
If you would like a copy of this article in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format for your own personal use, please contact Kasma.
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